At 38 years old, Yoshiyuki Yoshida intent on lightweight return to UFC

For many MMA fans, the mention of the name Yoshiyuki Yoshida (15-6) instantly brings to mind a pair of brutal knockout losses to UFC veterans Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson.

But two-and-a-half years since his final octagon appearance, Yoshida is hoping for a chance to change that perception. He’s moved to the U.S. (and apart from his girlfriend) to focus on training, dropped to lightweight and currently boasts a four-fight win streak. Now he wants another chance to fight in the UFC.

“The primary reason for moving to America is that I want to try to get back into UFC,” Yoshida told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) through an interpreter. “In order for me to achieve this goal, I feel I have a better chance living in America and fighting in America. I guess many think its a huge decision to move to foreign country, but for me it’s different. I am enjoying everything, and I am constantly challenging something new.”

A fourth-degree judo black belt, Yoshida started MMA later than most. A former member of Japan’s national judo team, he served as a judo instructor after graduating college before trying his hand at MMA at age 30. He started his career at just 1-2 before an eight-fight win streak earned him a call from the UFC. Yoshida debuted in May 2008 at UFC 84 with a technical-submission win of War Machine.

Unfortunately for Yoshida, things went downhill from there, and he would win just one of his next four fights, leading the company to release him two days after his UFC 113 loss to Mike Guymon. The move came on Yoshida’s 36th birthday.

Despite his disappointment, Yoshida said he never considered walking away from the sport.

“After I was released from the UFC, it was soon after I had surgery on my knee, so I was not in a good condition and therefore I couldn’t perform well,” Yoshida said. “But I felt that when I was fully recovered, I would be able to perform better.”

Following his release from the UFC, Yoshida received an offer to fight in his native country in a bout with Ryo Chonan under the DEEP banner. However, Yoshida opted instead to take an offer from Bellator Fighting Championships. According to his manager, Shu Hirata of SuckerPunch Entertainment, Yoshida made that decision because he did not want to simply return to Japan’s regional circuit but instead remain competitive in the U.S., as well.

The gamble did not pay off, as Yoshida’s corner stopped the fight before he answered the bell for the third round.

Still, Yoshida’s spirit was not broken. He remained intent on getting back to the UFC.

“I felt I had something left to do in America,” Yoshida said.

To that end, Yoshida asked Hirata to book him against established opponents at notable shows. First came 24-fight veteran Ferrid Kheder in a headlining bout. Then it was longtime MMA superstar Phil Baroni in the co-main event of a ONE FC show. Yoshida won them both.

As the calendar turned to 2012, Yoshida thought his big break had come. British organization BAMMA booked him to face top welterweight Nate Marquardt at BAMMA 9. Yoshida knew a win over such an established name could earn him a call from the UFC, so he made a difficult decision. He gave up his apartment in Japan and relocated to Crystal Lake, Ill., to train at Jeff Curran’s Team Curran Martial Arts Academy. His longtime girlfriend stayed in Japan.

“I feel so much appreciation and gratitude toward my girlfriend,” Yoshida said. “She always respects my decisions, and she is my biggest supporter. Sure, sometime it’s lonely to be apart, but I believe our bond is very strong.”

Two days after he settled in Illinois, Yoshida learned through media reports that BAMMA 9 was postponed and that Marquardt was parting ways with the promotion. He received official word of the changes only after Hirata reached out to the promotion.

Stuck in another unfortunate situation, Yoshida elected to remain focused on his goals and stayed the path.

“I believed training day-in and day-out would open some doors,” Yoshida said. “I want to have one more chance to fight in the UFC.”

With the BAMMA opportunity lost, Yoshida took a fight in Minnesota and earned a submission win over Jeremy Hamilton. With three-straight wins under his belt, Yoshida decided to take his commitment one step further and drop to 155 pounds. He took the first step in that direction in October, traveling to Finland to face Niko Puhakka in a 158-pound matchup that Yoshida won via submission.

“Zenko” said the transformation wasn’t easy, but he’s encouraged by what he sees.

“When I was fighting in the welterweight division, cutting weight was not that hard,” Yoshida said. “It only took me two weeks. But at lightweight, I had to go on diet for six weeks and cut a total of 30 pounds. In my last fight, I was still not familiar with fighting at 155 pounds, so I couldn’t really perform well, but in my next fight, I can adjust this and I should do well.

“After moving down to this weight class, I am faster yet maintaining my strength, so I don’t think I would have a physical disadvantage.”

So now Yoshida waits for his next assignment. He turned 38 this past May, but he’s quick to point out that he’s logged only about eight years of MMA experience, so his body is still in peak condition.

“I feel it’s not fair to make boundaries based solely on just an age,” Yoshida said. “I feel I am still developing. I am peaking now, and I am getting stronger everyday in both technique and physical strength.”

Yoshida believes he’s made all the sacrifices necessary to continue to compete at the sport’s highest level, and he remains determined to return to the octagon. A new home, a new weight class, a new training camp, a sole focus on MMA training – all of it with one goal in mind.

“It’s been a while, but my goal is to again stand inside the octagon,” Yoshida said. “I just want to have one chance. Right now, I know I can perform better than before.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.